A proposed onshore abalone farm on Victoria's south-west coast has residents concerned about the size and location of the development which would be near their homes.

The Yumbah Nyamat aquaculture farm, proposed for Bolwarra, near Portland, would cover more than 45 hectares of low-lying land — an area equivalent to seven MCGs with 2,000 concrete tanks covered in shade cloth.

The proposed $60 million development would be located within the rural living zone.

Residents say site is inappropriate

"When we found out the detail we were just stunned," said local business owner Rachael Matuschka, whose Princes Highway property would be overlooking the abalone farm.

Ms Matuschka said many of her neighbours had bought houses in the area for peace and quiet but may end up looking down on the massive development.

The existing view from concerned land owner Rachael Matuschka's property.

Supplied: Gary Matuschka

Third generation resident of the area Leslie Yuill, who is building a home overlooking the proposed farm, said she would "definitely see it and hear it".

"I have no idea whether I'll smell it," Ms Yuill said.

She said there was concern also from Portland residents as they saw the beachfront road Dutton Way as an area of beauty.

Tony Wright, who owns a property which would be across the road from the farm, said "the word inappropriate doesn't really cover it".

"Instead of the bucolic valley, you're going to have this vast area of roofing, most of which is black shade cloth, plus a large solar array, which may have its own visual problems as well," Mr Wright said.

Development to double farmed abalone production

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Yumbah Aquaculture operates four Australian on-shore abalone farms, including one in Narrawong, about six kilometres from the site of the proposed expansion.

The proposed farm would produce 1,000 tonnes of abalone in a year, five times the size of the Narrawong operation.

According to the planning application, the proposed operation would include 20 pipes carrying about 6,000 litres of seawater per second to the land-based farm, before discharging treated water into the bay.

There would be 5,800 solar panels covering an area of two hectares of land, capable of generating 2 megawatts of electricity.

Company defends choice of site

Yumbah Narrawong general manager Tim Rudge said the company looked along the coastline from Warrnambool to Portland, and other sites interstate, to identify a suitable location.

"It's a matter of opinion as to whether people think it's a suitable farming activity to be carried out in that area," Mr Rudge said.

"But certainly, from a planning perspective it does fit into that area."

Mr Rudge said the development would not spoil views for nearby residents.

"They have magnificent ocean views from those blocks of land and we're not going to impact on their ocean views one little bit," he said.

He said the development would be a boon for the local economy, requiring 160 full-time workers once operational.

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